asked
anxiously:

"Have you heard anything?"

"So far not a word. I have just left Seth Jepson, and it is evident he
has failed of learning the news."

"Can it be the lobster backs haven't missed him yet?" Harvey asked, and
I proposed what might seem reckless:

"Let us walk past the prison and see if anything has been done toward
mending that window."

This we did, taking care, however, not to gaze too intently at the walls
of the jail; but seeming to have our attention attracted toward the
opposite side of the street, yet before we were well come up to the
scene of the previous night's adventure it was possible to see that the
mischief wrought by Hiram Griffin had been partially repaired. The bars,
which he had bent with his oaken stick, were not yet straightened, but
had been put into place after a fashion, and the shattered window was
closed with heavy planks.

There was no longer any question but that the Britishers were well aware
their prisoner had given them the slip, yet why they failed to raise a
hue and cry passed all my understanding. If searchers had been sent out
in the hope of capturing the fugitive, neither Harvey nor I had chanced
to come upon them, which was the more strange because there were many
so-called rebels who lived near to my home, and such section of the town
would have seemed to be the best hunting ground for the red-coats.

Chew it over as we might, neither Harvey nor I could make head nor tail
of the matter. Both of us had the good sense to realize that it was best
to let sleeping dogs lie, and the less inquisitive we showed ourselves
to be regarding Archie, the least likelihood there was we would bring
suspicion upon ourselves.

And now, because during the week that followed nothing of import
happened so far as we Minute Boys were concerned, I will pass over that
time with as few words as may be.

During these days Hiram failed to keep his word in regard to coming
back; Archie remained in camp as a matter of course, since it would have
been the height of folly for him to venture into Boston, and it was as
if Silas had decided to stay with the army.

Seth Jepson seemed striving to show himself exceedingly busy in the work
that had been set him, and took advantage of every opportunity to report
the lightest word he heard from the enemy; but, however, bringing
nothing of importance which would warrant the sending of a message to
our people.

Harvey and I came to the conclusion